The 20 Absolute Best Burgers In NYC

Sure, you may have come to NYC in search of the perfect slice of pizza, but we've got burgers too. And they are good. May I suggest stopping at any one or ten of these while you're here? They're listed alphabetically, BTW. Enjoy!

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

In which I take down five of these bad boys in one day. You're welcome.

4 Charles Prime Rib; West Village

Yelp

Hi, folks, welcome to the burger round-up. Let's start with this one which is fancy. You can add an egg and bacon to your burger at this moody, low-lit, classy as hell den, but forgo them. You'll get a fantastic hunk of meat and cheese that doesn't even need it. Also, who doesn't love their burgers served with a gigantic steak knife? That's so hot!

Where to find it: 4 Charles Street, New York, NY, 10014

BarBacon; Hell's Kitchen

Facebook

Come for the burger, stay for the bacon flights. BarBacon does a lot of things well (its burger included), but it does a lot of things great (those bacon flights I mentioned, for example. But also their fried pickle chips. Oh my god. May I suggest taking fried pickle chips and putting them on your burger???).

Where to find it: 836 9th Avenue, New York, NY, 10019

Burger & Barrel; SoHo

Yelp

Burger & Barrel is a six-time Burger Bash champion, but it has two burgers to choose from. This one's their classic American hamburger (topped with onion rings about the size of my face). We'll get to their other burger later.

Where to find it: 25 W Houston Street, New York, NY, 11217

Burger Joint; Midtown West

Yelp

The Burger Joint is everyone's favorite NYC open secret. Once you've been, you tell every out-of-towner you know they've got to go. It's hidden in the Parker Meridien hotel and very much feels like it doesn't belong there: walls scratched and written on, tables destroyed...oh, and a burger so tidy and yet so messy, you won't stop to think how you crushed it in three bites.

Where to find it: 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY, 10019

Chumley's

Yelp

There are no words to describe the soul-filling goodness that is the Chumley's "86'd Burger." We'll start with these: double patties. Melty cheese. Crispy shallots. Bone marrow. Secret sauce. FRIES YOU CAN DRAG THROUGH ALL THE ABOVE. May I suggest two burgers and a bottle of wine at Chumley's for your next 10 or so date nights?

Where to find it: 86 Bedford Street, New York, NY, 10014

Emily; West Village

Yelp

You've undoubtedly seen this bad boy on your Insta feed since Emily and Matt Hyland took their talents to the West Village and there's reason for that. Not only is the Emily burger gorgeous, but that pretzel bun. Oooh, that pretzel bun.

Where to find it: 35 Downing Street, New York, NY, 10014

Emmy Squared; East Village

Yelp

Another one from the Emily empire. This location has Le Big Matt—another pretzel bun-based burger, but with more than a bit of a kick. There's also enough veg crunch to make you feel like you've done something kind for yourself. You ate a crazy-good, crazy-rich burger...with...greens!

Where to find it: 83 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10003

Empire Diner; Chelsea

Instagram

This beautiful, straightforward burger is badass in a way that makes you want to reevaluate all the things you think you know. Why is a burger so simple so good? Why don't more things come with a thicccCcccc slice of tomato? What really matters in this world? Etc., etc.

Where to find it: 210 10th Avenue, New York, NY, 10011

J.G. Melon; Upper East Side

Yelp

The beauty of the J.G. Melon experience is that it's never going to change. Want a solid burger, time and time again? J.G. Melon's got u. Want a place your whole family's gonna love? J.G. Melon it is.

Where to find it: 1291 3rd Avenue, New York, NY, 10021

Le Rivage; Theatre District

Yelp

Where to begin? This hidden French haven has something called a French onion soup burger, which is quite literally the most French onion soup-y thing you'll ever eat. Cheese sauce and broiled down onions quite literally cascade outta this thing. Oh, and did I mention the toasted English muffin bun? It comes on a toasted English muffin bun.

Where to find it: 340 West 46th Street, New York, NY, 10036

Lure Fishbar; SoHo

Facebook

Remember how we talked about Burger & Barrel's other burger? You can get your burger "Bash Style" at Josh Capon's Lure Fishbar as well. That means your burger is coming with bacon and onion jam and a whole bunch of pickles. And the onion rings. Duh.

Where to find it: 142 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012

Maysville; Flatiron

Maysville

The Maysville burger is interesting in a lot of ways. Firstly, it's topped with arugula, an unusual—albeit exciting!—burger green. It's also got a bun that can handle the heft of its meat (...not a sex joke. Just burger talk). It's rare you make your way through a sizable burger without being soaked in its juices (...also not a sex joke).

Where to find it: 17 West 26th Street, New York, NY, 10010

Miznon; Meatpacking

Yelp

Hey, ever wondered what a burger in a pita might taste like? The answer is "weird and great!"

Where to find it: 435 West 15th Street, New York, NY 10011

Pig Bleecker; West Village

Facebook

Not only have the geniuses over at Pig Bleecker mastered the art of the burger, but they've nailed toppings too. By "toppings" I mean that on each burger you order, there is an actual base layer of perfect pickles and an actual waterfall of what is ultimately elevated mayochup. UUuUuuuuugh.

Where to find it: 155 Bleecker Street, New York, NY, 10012

Porterhouse; Columbus Circle

Facebook

People overlook the Porterhouse burger because, well, it's Porterhouse. You don't have to be all in on The Bank-Breaking Experience, though. Roll up to the bar and order this gorgeous double stack for $16. The fresh-out-the-fryer potato chips don't hurt either.

Where to find it: 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, 10019

Shake Shack; Madison Square Park

Facebook

I didn't want to include Shake Shack on this list. I really didn't. The fact of the matter is, though, that you can't come to New York and not visit a Shake Shack for a burger. Any Shake Shack! You've gotta do it. And you've gotta get a milkshake to go with it.

The Suprema burger is gorgeous. Its cheese sauce runs its way down all corners and the tomatoes that top it are prettier than any other burger topping you've ever seen.

Where to find it: 305 Bleecker Street, New York, NY, 10014

The Happiest Hour; West Village

Yelp

The Happiest Hour is not only a fantastic time (tropical decor! Tropical music! Instagrammable walls up the wazoo!), but its burger is a delight as well. It's like if the Burger Joint and Pig Bleecker's burgers had a little burger baby: a mid-size, cheesy joy.

Where to find it: 121 West 10th Street, New York, NY, 10011

The Spaniard; West Village

The Spaniard

Everything about The Spaniard burger is sexy. The price point ($14), the crunch, the sauce-to-cheese ratio. It's allllll gooooood.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Delish participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.